IT MIGHT be rugby's greatest show on earth but the identity of the two playmakers who will be opposing each other this weekend remains a mystery.
Usually when the All Blacks square up to the Springboks the men who play in such starring roles are clearly defined but injuries and capricious form have made this Saturday's starting 10s difficult to predict.
After Morne Steyn's patchy performance in Perth the Springboks have much to ponder but All Blacks coach Steve Hansen will have something almost as weighty on his plate.
Dan Carter is, of course, unavailable but Aaron Cruden is in the final stages of recovering from a pectoral injury. Should he be declared fit he may muscle rising star Beauden Barrett out of the starting team.
"The pec is feeling good," Cruden said reassuringly. "It responded to treatment really well last week. We'll make a call over the next few days."
It certainly won't be a train smash if he fails to regain his fitness in time because Barrett is a man who can call on a vast repertoire of skills.
He did, however, fluff his lines in his first start at flyhalf for the All Blacks in rainy Napier last weekend, missing four of his five attempts at goal.
Such a paltry return will almost certainly lead to All Black failure on Saturday.
What is certain is that lock Sam Whitelock (ribs) and flank Liam Messam (thigh) are out of the Rugby Championship.
Messam's replacement is likely to be Sam Cane, whose designated role will be as fetcher, which will necessitate captain Richie McCaw shifting to blindside.
Whitelock's loss is significant. He has been one of the star performers in the All Blacks' victories against the Springboks in Johannesburg over the last few seasons. They will sorely miss his high work rate and muscular presence.
His replacement is home boy Jeremy Thrush, who isn't quite endowed with the same level of skill or engine.
Boks and All Blacks face flyhalf poser
IT MIGHT be rugby's greatest show on earth but the identity of the two playmakers who will be opposing each other this weekend remains a mystery.
Usually when the All Blacks square up to the Springboks the men who play in such starring roles are clearly defined but injuries and capricious form have made this Saturday's starting 10s difficult to predict.
After Morne Steyn's patchy performance in Perth the Springboks have much to ponder but All Blacks coach Steve Hansen will have something almost as weighty on his plate.
Dan Carter is, of course, unavailable but Aaron Cruden is in the final stages of recovering from a pectoral injury. Should he be declared fit he may muscle rising star Beauden Barrett out of the starting team.
"The pec is feeling good," Cruden said reassuringly. "It responded to treatment really well last week. We'll make a call over the next few days."
It certainly won't be a train smash if he fails to regain his fitness in time because Barrett is a man who can call on a vast repertoire of skills.
He did, however, fluff his lines in his first start at flyhalf for the All Blacks in rainy Napier last weekend, missing four of his five attempts at goal.
Such a paltry return will almost certainly lead to All Black failure on Saturday.
What is certain is that lock Sam Whitelock (ribs) and flank Liam Messam (thigh) are out of the Rugby Championship.
Messam's replacement is likely to be Sam Cane, whose designated role will be as fetcher, which will necessitate captain Richie McCaw shifting to blindside.
Whitelock's loss is significant. He has been one of the star performers in the All Blacks' victories against the Springboks in Johannesburg over the last few seasons. They will sorely miss his high work rate and muscular presence.
His replacement is home boy Jeremy Thrush, who isn't quite endowed with the same level of skill or engine.